“Too much water, not enough water – Balancing the 8 ‘Authorized Purposes’ of the Missouri River”
Published: June 12, 2013
Original presentation by Larry O’Donnell, Healthy Rivers Partnership, Little Blue River Watershed Coalition & Missouri River Relief
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Recently four U.S. Representatives from Missouri proposed that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers remove “Fish and Wildlife” as Authorized Purposes for the management of the Missouri River. There are currently 8 Authorized Purposes representing different uses and stakeholders along the river: Navigation, Flood Control, Irrigation, Fish & Wildlife, Water Supply, Water Quality, Recreation and Hydropower.
What are the ways that these different uses conflict with each other? Why would certain stakeholders want to remove certain official uses of the river and what would that mean for the future of habitat restoration on the Missouri River? How does giving away “surplus water” for fracking in North Dakota fit into this?
Larry O’Donnell shared his perspectives on these and other questions regarding the politics of Missouri River management.
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Resources and Links
- Click here to view a video recording and transcript of this presentation.
- Columbia Tribune, April 14, 2013 – “Bill would strip wildlife from Corps’ focus”
- Text of H.R. Bill 1460 to “Revise certain Authorized Purposes described in the Master Manual”
- Mo. Dept. of Natural Resources Missouri River page, with links to many resources including the Army Corps of Engineers Master Manual used to direct Missouri River management.
- Missouri River Authorized Purposes Study (MRAPS) website (this study, intended to revisit the Corps’ Authorized Purposes was defunded by the Missouri U.S. Senate delegation)
The Big Muddy Speakers Series in Kansas City
is hosted by Friends of Lakeside Nature Center, Little Blue River Watershed Coalition, Missouri River Relief, Friends of Big Muddy and Healthy Rivers Partnership with the following list of partners. All speakers are presenting for free. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us!
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The Big Muddy Speaker Series is also held in Rocheport and St. Charles.